‘How soldiers killed our people, destroyed our community’
Residents of Kadarko town and other surrounding villages of Mutum Biyu, Wadata Arewa, Wadata Kasuwa and Kurmi comprising the Tarok community in Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State, have called on the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the May 2 and 3 invasion by soldiers which they said left more than 52 people dead.
The community’s spokesman, Mr sylvester Chirman, who narrated the ordeal the citizens suffered during the attacks, said that men of the Nigerian Army, armed with tanks, grenades and guns, allegedly seized their community for 48 hours, leaving it in ruins, with human remains littering the streets and houses burnt.
According to him, about 52 bodies of civilians have been recovered , while the actual number of deaths is yet to be ascertained.
Chirman, who led a delegation from the Tarok community to present a petition to the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Bem Angwe, said those who perpetrated the killings should be brought to justice.
He urged the NHRC to investigate their petition and ensure that the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Third Armoured Division, Jos, the Special Task Force (STF) Commander, Plateau State and Captain Okon of FOB, Wase, who led the onslaught be held responsible and made to account for the murder of innocent people and property that they have constitutional duty to protect.
He also prayed the NHRC to compel the Federal Government to pay compensation for the injured, rebuilt their houses and pay N10b as compensation for lives and property destroyed by the rampaging soldiers.
His tale of destruction and ruins was corroborated by the Chairman, Committee on Human Rights of the House of Representatives, Beni Lar, who said she left the community in tears in view of what she saw during her recent visit.
No comments:
Post a Comment